Description:

The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) made its debut in Japan in 1996 with the release of the Base Set - 1st Edition. Among the various cards included in this set, none stand out quite like Charizard. The card features a striking design created by illustrator Mitsuhiro Arita, capturing the attention of children who admired both its aesthetic appeal and its strength in official TCG competitions. Charizard was one of the few cards in the Base Set capable of evolving into a more powerful second stage Pokémon. The text on the back of the card highlights the origins of the first Pokémon TCG set. Ishihara worked alongside Kouichi Ooyama and Akihiko Miura to create the packaging artwork for the Base Set. Additionally, the interview featured on the reverse side of the Charizard card reveals that the game was already in development prior to the launch of Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Green Version in Japan. This particular Charizard card, from the Pokémon (2021) Japanese Creatures Deck: Corporate History 25th Anniversary – 1996, boasts a CGC grade of Pristine 10, the highest rating available on the CGC Cards Grading Scale.